Portable sewing-machine head



(a. H. RIDDELL.

PORTABLE SEWING MACHINE HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1919.

1 344,7 1 8 I) Patented June 29, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. H. RIDDELL.

PORTABLE SEWING MACHINE HEAD.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 26, 1919.

1 3&4, 7 1 8 Patented June 29, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

""i ilmgmmiqm Minimal fwyenfia'i? J 1 4 WWW a 6&5

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. RIDDELL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YOEK, ASSIGNOR TO DOMESTIC SEWING MACHINE (10., INQ, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PORTABLE SEWING-MACHINE HEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 29, 1920.

Application filed September 26, 1919. Serial No. 326,618.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen H. RInnELL, a citizen of the United States, residin at Buffalo, county of Erie, State of New have invented a certain new and useful Imrovement in Portable Sewing-Machine eads, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

A type of sewing machine that has come largely into use is that consisting of a motor-driven sewing machine head mounted upon a small flat base which may be set upon a table or other convenient support. The advantages of this type of machine are compactness, lightness and portability. The object of the present invention is generally to improve machines of the type specified so as to permit the advantages of the type to be secured to a maximum degree, and at the same time secure an increased worksupporting surface when a machine is be ing operated and facilitate the storing of the accessories when the machines are not in use.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its object and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of a machine housed in a casing which is shown in section, embodying the present invention;

F Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a plan view of a detachable supporting plate for accessories, removed from the casing;-

Fig. 4 is a front view of the left hand end of the sewing machine, ready for use;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the lower part of the casing; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken a proximately on line 77 of Fig. 6, not on y the casing ork,

but also the base of the machine being shown.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a head and 2 the base of a portable sewing machine of any usual or suitable constructlon. Ordinarily, in order to secure compactness, the base of the machine is madethe machine is not in use, be stored on top of the left hand end of the base as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The member 3 may conveniently form a receiving chamber for attachments or supplies. Thus, in the arrangement shown, the member 3 is provided with a large drawer, 4:, which may be drawn out on the front side of the machine when the extension is in working position.

The member 3 may be connected in an suitable way to the base; preferably in such a manner that it will not only be held firmly in position when serving as a part of the work support, but also when stored. In the arrangement shown, the member 3 is provided on the side or edge which abuts against the end of the base with a pair of projecting dowel pins, 5, adapted to enter suitable holes, 6, in the base. of the base are a second pair of holes, 7, properly spaced apart and of the proper size to receive the dowel pins when the member 3 is placed on edge on top of the base as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the machine is not in use it may be inclosed in asuit-able case, 8, open at the bottom and adapted to fit over and conceal the base. Suitable means are provided for fastening the case to the base so that by providing the case with a handle, 9, the machine may conveniently be carried about. In the arrangement shown, the attaching means between the case and the base consists of suitable movable dowel pins, 10, arranged in pairs at each end of the case; each pair being connected to a suitable bar or plate, 11, lying onthe outside of the case; and the pins of each pair being spaced apart the proper distance and being of the proper size In the top,

to enter the holes 6 which are at other times adapted to receive the dowel pins of the extension member 3. Since there is a set of holes in one end of the base, it will be unnecessary to provide a similar set at the opposite end. Each pair of pins, 10, is preferably fixed to the corresponding bar or plate and is permitted to move longitudinally a sutticient distance to carry them into and out of the corresponding holes in the base of the machine; such limited movement being conveniently secured by cutting a short slot or groove, 12. in the side of each pin and placing a stationary projection, 13, adjacent to each pin in such position that it will project into the groove or slot, as best illustrated in Fig. 7. The plates or bars, 11, may be constructed and arranged in any suitable way to permit them to be grasped in the fingers and drawn outwardly. In the arrangement shown, each plate is provided with a small ring, 14:, which will permit a firm grip to be taken. It will be seen that by placing the fastening devices at the two ends of the case, they are in positions to permit them to be conveniently actuated by a person standing in front of the machine when placing his or her hands at the two ends of the case.

If desired. the case may be provided with a finger, 15, preferably a yieldable one, in a position to engage with the top of the extension 3 when the machine is housed in the case.

In machines of this kind the motor remains attached when the machine is not in use, but the cord or cable, the rheostat, and other devices remain loose and must be stored away when the machine is placed in its case. In accordance with my invention I provide a simple means whereby all of the loose parts or attachments may be quickly and conveniently locked upon a supporting board or plate which has a definite place in the case where it will not interfere with the placing of the case in position on the machine or its removal therefrom. Back of the machine there is considerable space in the case if it be made rectangular as shown and in this space I place a board or plate, 16, which lies flat against the rear wall of the case, rests at its lower edge upon a ledge or cleat, 17, fixed to the case, and is engaged at the ends by stationary clips, 18 and 19, under which it may be slipped before being engaged with the cleat or ledge. On one end of the member 16'are clips or cleats. 20 and 21, adapted to hold the rheostat, 22. At the opposite end of the member 16 are clips, 23, or the like adapted to engage and detachably hold a box, 24, in'

which attachments and accessories may be stored. At the middle of the board'is a clip or cleat,'25, behind which the folded motor cord or cable may be inserted. When the user desires to put away the machine, he places the attachments on the board or plate 16, slips the latter in place in the case, attaches the base extension, 3, to the top of the base, and then slips the case down over it the machine and locks it to the base.

An objection to machines of this general type is that when the head is swung back on its hinge connection with the base to give access to the working parts underneath, the base is not heavy enough to afford stability and unless the operator holds the machine so that it cannot tip over, it will tip backward, carrying the base with it. In accordance with my invention I have provided the base with a leg or extension which is ordinarily concealed but which may be placed into an operative position in rear of the base and thus prevent the latter from tilting when the head is swung back. In the arrangement shown, as best seen in Fig. 5, the leg is in the form of a simple short bar, 27, pivoted at one end to the under side of the base, as indicated at 28, in such a position that the bar may either be swung out at right angles to the rear edge of the base as shown in full lines or be swung inwardly under the base as shown in dotted lines.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the terms employed in the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a portable sewing machine comprising a head and a base,

.of a case adapted to fit over said head and base, an extension for one end of said base, and means for supporting said extension either fixed rigidly in the plane of the base or in a position overlying the base and housed within said case.

'2. The combination with the base of a portable sewing machine head, of a receptacle having a length equal to the width of said base and a depth equal to the thickness of the base, and means for supporting said receptacle so as to form a direct continuation of the base or in a position overlying the base.

3. The combination with a portable sewing machine comprising a head and a base, of an extension for said base having laterally-projecting pins at one edge, said base having in one end holes adapted to receive said pins and so positioned as to bring the top of the extension flush with the top of the base, said base having also in the top thereof holes positioned to receive said pins and support the extension above and within the side and end limits of the base.

4. The combination with a portable sewing machine comprising a head and a base, of an extension for said base havin laterally-projecting pins at one edge, sai base having in one end holes adapted to receive said pins and so positioned as to bring the top of the extension flush with the top of the base, said base having also in the top thereof holes positioned to receive said pins and support the extension above and within the side and end limits of the base, a case adapted to fit over said head and base, said case having movable pins adapted to be inserted in the holes in the end of said base.

5. The combination with a portable sewing machine comprising a head and a base, of an extension for said base havin laterally-projecting pins at one edge, sai base having in one end holes adapted to receive said pins and so positioned as to bring the top of the extension flush with the top of the base, said base having also in the top thereof holes positioned to receive said pins and support the extension above and within the side and end limits of the base, a case adapted to fit over said head and base, said case having movable pins adapted to be inserted in the holes in the end of said base, and means for detachably attaching the opposite end of the case to the corresponding end of the base.

6. The combination with a portable sew.- ing machine comprising a head and a base, of an extension for one end of said base, means for supporting said extension so as to form a continuation of the base or above one end of the base and lying within the area bounded by the side and end walls of the base, a case fitting over said head and base, means for detachably connecting the case and base together, and a part in said case adapted to engage with the top of said extension when the extension overlies the base.

7. The combination with a portable sewing machine comprising a head and a base, of an extension for one end of said base, means for supporting said extension so as to form a continuation of the base or above one end of the base and lying within the area bounded by the side and end walls of the base, a case fitting over said head and base, means for detachably connecting the case and base together, a plate lying against the inner face of the back wall of the case and detachably secured thereto, and means on said plate for detachably holding accessories.

8. The combination with a portable sewing machine comprising a head and a base,

of a case adapted to fit over said head and base, a rece tacle having a length equal to the width 0 said base and a depth equal to the thickness of the base, and means for supporting said receptacle so as to form a direct continuation of one end of the base or in a position overlying one end of the base at a point within said base.

9. The combination witha portable sewing machine comprising a head and a base, of an extension for one end of said base, means for supporting said extension so as to form a continuation of the base or lie above one end of the base within the area bounded by the side and end Walls of the latter, a case fitting over said head and base and adapted to inclose said extension when the latter lies above the base, and means for detachably connecting the case and the base to ether.

11 testimony whereof, I sign this speci fication.

' GEORGE H. RIDDELL 

